The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1887-01-15
GOVERNORS MESSAGE.
Annual Message of Governor For
aker to the Legislature.
state Affairs Exhaustivciy Discussed--Im.
portant Recommendations Regard
Ing the Spring Election. Tax
alton and Finances.
EXECUTIVE CHAMBgh

TRY during the last two years rs TO the policy u
be pursued by our National Government In re
gard to the protection OF American labor ant
industries. IL can now be stated with great
confidence that no political party viii be al
lowed, however much 1t may desire to do so, tC
break down that wise and patriotic policy To
which we are so much indebted for the unex
;nmpled prosperity we have u, enjoyed during the
afforded is already beneiicaly monfestinp
itself throughout all our business interests
With complete restoration Of confidence In
this regard, there will be % full return of that
commercial and industrial activity which will
bring the rich blessings of Just rewards and
happy contentmcnt to all classes OF our people
This is just cause OF congratuation for oil.
But You are to be further congratulated. Ex
perence has shown the wisdom and efficiency
OF your labors ut the last session.
When you convened, the most difficult and
the most important duty presented related tc
the elective franchise.
count was before you in an immediate and q
practical way.
Men had been returned as elected, to both
branches of your body, who had no shadow OF
claim to the seats they held, except by virtue OF
open, notorious and conceded frauds ut the
polls and In the returns. And not only had the
very foundations of free popular government
been thus assaied but what was far worse and
more alarming was the manifestation OF wide
spread and wicked determination to defend
these iniquities and IL possible, for the mere
sake OF partisan advantage, appropriate their
fruits and benefits.
Your first duty was to give effect to the
pressed ut the ballot-box by .purging your
body OF those so wrongfully returned
as members; and your second highest duty was
to enact such provisions as would guard In the
greatest degree possible against repetition of
such crimes.
You discharged both duties we'll The mem.
bers elected by the people were duly seated.
and repetition of the humliating experience
through which you were compelled to pass was
guarded against by the enactment OF better cleo
ton laws applicable to the cities where those
troubles arose. and wlere similar ones were
likely to occur in the future The Pugsley law,
which you first enacted and made applicable to
the cities OF Cincinnati, Cleveland, Columbus
and Toledo, gave great satisfaction but it was
not sufiioiently complete to fully guard against
all dangers and the Registration act, applicable
to Cincinnati and Cleveland, followed. This
statute cannot be too highly commended. 1t
has given universal and unqualified satisfaction
to all well-mconing citizens of both political
parties. 1t has enabled the people of Cincinnati
TO have quiet, decent and honest election. 1t
is not known how to express for it higher or
commend it, argument is unnecessary to show
that it should be at once extended to all the
larger cities of the State. especially to Coluln-
bus and Toledo.
The slightly increased expense, trouble and
inconvenience OF registration are amply com
pensated In many ways. 1t is enough that it
secures orderly elections, with honest results
and without any Investigations or election CON
tests. with their attendant expenses and irri-
tations to follow and prolong the eXcitements
incident to n political canvass. While you are
considering the subject of elections, there is
another matter to which you should give atten-
tion. There has recently been much discussion
in the newspapers of the State concerning the
advisability OF abolishing April or spring cleo
tons.
IL is dificut, in view of the experience we
have had to assign any satisfactory reason for
having two elections annually. 1t will save eX-
pensc, time labor and excitement to have all
our elections for each year on the same day.
The constitution has been so amended as to
admit of u provision to that effect, and it is
cordingly recommended that you enact it,
1t l. further recommended that you give due
consideration to the suggestion that has been
mnde that If we have all our elections on the
same dny, thut day should be made legal holi-
day We cannot attach too much Importance
to the elective franchise. - 4
When all these safeguards have been adopted
there Is one other matter of great Importance
that should receive consideration. At your
last session practical demonstration was
Afforded OF the fact that the State government
might be obstructed and practically overthrown
by sufficient number of the members OF either
branch OF your body abandoning their seats and
duties and going and remaining beyond the ter
ritorial limits OF the State. 1t had never oc-
CURED to the legislative mind to anticipate any
such action. As consequence, when num-
Der or the Senators saw tit to taSo such step
during the last session, it was discovered that
there were no legal means whereby they might
be brought back, or otherwise proceeded against.
You should enact Il law providing that any
State official who abandons his post OF duty and
goes beyond the State to avoid being compelled
10 perform II, shall be deemed guilty of an of
fence OF sufficient gravity to make him subject
TO extradition upon the requisition OF the Gov
ernor.
The people of Cincinnati are greatly indebted
to you also for the law enacted at your last
sion, providing for the organization and govern
ment, in that city, OF the police force by Board
OF Commissioners and the Mayor.
The board appointed under that law, have in
connection with the Mayor of that CITY, labored
with great earnestness, constancy and success
to discharge their important duties. AS q result,
the police force of that city is to-day equal in
discipline and efficiency to the police force Of
any city in the country.
Both this police law and the election laws
that have been mentioned, are non-partisan in
character, there being on each board an equal
number of members from each OF the two polit-
ical parties. This is as it should be. Whatever
may be said of non-partisan boards and legisla-
tion concerning other subjects, the elections and
constabulary should be always equally controlled
by both parties, no matter which may be in
power. 1t Is of the utmost Importance that we
not only have honest elections, but that all par
ties have confidence in their fairness, to the end
that there may be ready and cheerful acquies-
cence in the results. This can be best obtained
by equal participation and cooperation In all
that pertains to the exercise of the right OF suf
frage. In every large city the police are an i'm
portant feature OF all elections. They ore q
great power for evil If so disposed, and equally
great power for good If they desire TO be-
They are most likely to do their duty faithfully
and impartially on such occasions whom or
ganized and controlled on non-partisan
basis, particularly when they act In
aid and rs part Of a bipartisan election, In
addition, their duty of preserving the peace and
protecting the rights OF person and property
makes It improper to involve them in politics,
not in the same degree, but In tho same sense.
that II would be to similarly involve the judic-
iary. 1t is hoped, therefore, that no changes
will be made in any OF these statutes, except such
US experience may show are necessary to make
them more efficient.
1t has been currently reported in the news
papers and otherwise that an effort will be mado
tion touching municipal government generally
and affecting the city OF Cincinnati particularly.
This will bring before you for consideration u
very important subject.
In all that may be done due regard should be
observed for the idea that, so far as may be pos
sible, every city should govern itself. The mu-
nicipal corporation is the creature OF the State,
and, so far us legal right Is concerned the State
may govern 1t in any way it may choose. But
local self-govcrnment is the very genius OF
American institutions, and no community should
be deprived OF 1t except in extraordinary emer'
gencies, such as existed at Cincinnati to de-
mand and justify the legislation with respect to
the boards OF that city that was had at the last
session.
AS soon, therefore, as it may be found safe to
do so, complete control OF their government, in
cluding the selection OF oil their officials, should
way the responsibility for local government Is
placed, not only where 1t properly belongs, but
also where there is the highest interest to make
iteflcent. In determining the kind OF municipal
government we are to have IL should be borne
in mind TINT experience has shown that we
should have as few elective officials OF o minOI
character as possible, and likewise us few ex
ecutive or departmental boards as possible, and
that all we do have instead of being indepen
dent OF eaoh other and responsible to nobody
should be subordinate heads, responsible anC
accountable rs such to one common final author
ity whtch should appoint all the boards ant
other officials II Is thought best to select In thai
way, and have the power OF approval as to oil
appointments made by its appointoes and nlst
have In all cases the right Of removal This
concentrates o great deal OF power, but IL II
necessary to fix responsibility, and Is not only
well calculated 10 make the people careful II
their selection, but also gives 10 them the ability